Treble rousers

Dec 5 2002 By Christopher Beesley, Ellesmere Port Pioneer

MARTIAL ARTS: ELLESMERE Port Tae Kwon-Do is celebrating a hat-trick of major honours.

Brothers Ryan and Chris Davies picked up medals at the World Championships and instructor Tony Littlejohns scooped a major prize.

The Davies brothers travelled to the championships in Miami, Florida, and Ryan, 16, secured silver in the junior heavyweight class while Chris, 18, got a bronze in the men's lightweight team section.

West Cheshire College sports science students Ryan and Chris were accompanied on their trip Stateside by their parents Rob and Debbie, who are also both members of Ellesmere Port Tae Kwon-Do, and their team-mates Daniel and Kerys Shaw.

Proud mum Debbie said: 'All four Ellesmere Port competitors produced some fine displays against the world's best and we're delighted that both Ryan and Chris were able to come among the medal winners. 'They have been training really hard for many months and their efforts have paid off.'

As well as training with Littlejohns in Ellesmere Port, the Davies brothers also work alongside World Champion Roger Lawrence in Liverpool and attend national squad sessions at Hinckley in Leicestershire.

Debbie said: 'I'd like to thank all the people who helped make the trip possible. The boys received contributions from Tony, the Vauxhall Amateur Photographic Society and Ron Webb, branch secretary of Amicus, while they have a free membership package at David Lloyd Leisure for general fitness.'

Littlejohns, 36, who also made the trip to the USA in his role as international referee, has been honoured by the Tae kwon-do Association of Great Britain (TAGB), receiving their coveted Instructor of the Year title for the second time.

With more than 25,000 members, the TAGB is the largest martial arts association in the world and Littlejohns, who previously won the award in 1999, received his trophy at the British Championships in Kettering.

The title is voted on by the National Council which consists of nine members, all of whom are seventh dans.